Breitenbush - a vibrant retreat or intensive of a different kind?

You would not believe how amazing Breitenbush is?  The website gives a bit of a glimpse - http://www.breitenbush.com/ - but the weekend that Paulette puts together adds a whole extra layer.

"Be vibrant" was the theme and the weekend schedule opened with the quote "Are you ready to dance? Sweat? Invent? Write? Laugh?  Here we go…"
I should have known it would not be about lazing around in hot tubs and relaxing!

Friday started slowly with checkin to our cozy warm cabins and filling our bellies with yummy Breitenbush food.  Then we started building our chocolate temple and introduced ourselves around.  Then the dancing began with what i can only describe as drills across the floor.

I was so pleased to wake a little early and have time to take in the beautiful surrounds and a quiet soak.

 Everyone seemed quiet on Saturday morning and drifted silently like ghosts towards breakfast.

Then a lovely half hour of yoga with Lynea to get our bodies ready for a big day of dancing.  Paulette then set us up with the tools to get started with journalling and capturing our creative talents.  Dulcinea then introduced us to modern dance style through the Gemini project.  Then Paulette and Carol put us through our paces with advanced combos.

After lunch, a spot of shopping for those dancers who just had to have another choli.  Then Carol warmed us up with some intermediate moves and Dulcinea got us journalling with our bodies, creating new moves.  She also brought a whole new meaning to squat muscles with descending and ascending for counts of 32!  Just in case we had any stamina left, Lynea picked up the pace with African moves.

A break for dinner to refuel with the fabulous Breitenbush vego food.  Then onto the salon where there was so much talent and so little time.  We had everything from dancing to writing, poem, singing, solos and troupe presentations.  Heres a few of my favourites included below.

 African tribal with Lynea and Kim        Singing    
                          

Writing                                                  Gypsy heart

Tribal mums                                   and who could forget the laughter yoga

Sunday was very special day bringing together everything we had experienced over the weekend and taking it into our daily lives, as much as possible.  And finding time to soak my weary muscles.

The dancing closed with soul train, then hugs all round to set us on our way back home.

pictured: Sun, Hillary, Lisa

Clatskanie CS1 and TT1 adventures

What a buzz, I can feel my muscles, they feel like they have really worked and I feel GREAT!

I am in Portland now spending time with Mark, but have lots to tell you, hold tight, its on its way.

I'm finally here at Clatskanie with Paulette

Its been a long time coming, but i am finally here and doing my refresher collective soul then my teacher training with Paulette. After two failed attempts to get here, i am actually here.  Its like a dream come true.

Yesterday was day one, we started at the farm.  I was welcomed with a beautiful big Paulette hug (and her corgis). Then Paulette and i sat down with Jeff and Mark and chatted about our wonderful trip and their fantastic life.  It was like being in an Aladdin's cave of rich colours, beautiful pieces placed deliberately and mountains of information, to be  in her personal space.  As Stephanie and Kit joined us we launched into the introduction chat and the day began.  I was torn between listening and taking in the space around us.

With a belly full of apprehension and excitement, we then headed off to Blue Nutria, a fantastic old building with beautiful wooden floors and a big mirror.  Good thing we all dance with such pride and presence, or we would be dwarfed by the space.  Paulette eased us into the course gently, but rattled through the moves.

Lunch was at the Cultivator to take in a lovely sustaining salad of yummy real flavours, then we returned to the hall to finish our days work with zills and rhythms.

The day was finished with a wine tasting at Cultivator, the perfect finish to the most wonderful day.  Jeff looking very comfy, standing proudly behind the counter with bottles of wine to share. As we sat and enjoyed the ambience and great company i had to pinch myself to remember that i am actually here and this is real.

 

Snow and springs - thinking of family!

Of all the travel books and brochures we have, i am reminded of how much i value family and home.  Advice from home has sent me to:
 - firstly to some hidden away hot springs and
 - secondly the most magical snow experience.
Only family would know how treasured those memories will be.

Most recently we had the return of snow.  One day was sunny, the next snow - out of nowhere, which gave me the opportunity to follow up on my sisters advice to make a snow angel!  Shell said i would really enjoy just lying on my back and feeling snow fall on my face - how true.  It was like soft gentle kisses on my face.  I think snow is the most beautiful thing, it makes everything look just so beautiful.

We saw snow again at Yosemite a few days later, so spectacular against the rocks and trees - another million photos on the hard drive.  As the sun came out, the snow would fall off the branches in great clods and thud on the snow around us, then shower in small snow flakes like rain.

another reminder of family is that before we left, i was talking with my brother and her partner about where we were travelling.  Hiroko suggested while in the Eastern Sierras i should check out the natural thermal springs.  We did and what a treat they were!  We checked out a couple close to Lee Vining in the time that we had and they were just what i needed for my travel weary bones and snuffly nose.  Sitting in the sun and soaking up the warmth was just divine - check out the backdrop. The only thing better would be to be there on a full moon with snow!

I write this on day twenty-six of our six week holiday and am thinking of home and how everyone is going.  Funnily enough i don't seem to have a proper sense of time, i had a situation today where i didn't know what day of the week it was or the date - how lucky i am to be on holidays!

What makes something great?

I have been fortunate to have experienced some amazing things over the past few days that have moved me and I am sure will leave a permanent print on my mind.

Mark and i spent a few days at the Grand Canyon and spent a day walking into the canyon to get a perspective on how immense it really is.

We stumbled across a small but significant place called Salt Creek Conservation Area and saw a long eared owl nesting in a tree, which felt very special to discover.

We also went to see the Cirque de Soleil Beatles show called "Love" in Vegas which filled my heart with joy and left me toe tapping for the evening.

So why do these things affect me and do they have anything in common that makes them great?

Is it the expectation that is exceeded?

Is it because it is a new experience?

Is it just because it means something to me only - perhaps others would not be so impressed?

Maybe because you can't put your finger on it, is what makes it special?

Maybe there isn't anything in common and i am just very fortunate...

But i think there is something, because each experience has filled my senses in a humbling and appreciative way.  And i think others around me felt something too which makes me think it is something really great, because it was not just me that has realised this.

Or perhaps i just wanted an excuse to write about what an amazing trip I am having…

Groovy dance moves inspired by spring in the desert

Belly in the USA tour continues ... even though i am missing out on 'cues and tattoos' in Seattle, I am inspired by the wildlife at Joshua Tree National Park.

Here's the sphinx stretch performed by a chipmunk.

and this colourful fellow performed a nice variation on snake arms, very smooth transitions ...

The Joshua trees represent length and elegance, reaching for the sky...

Even when i am on holidays, i am still thinking about dance...

Dance class with Amy from Unmata, Sacramento, US

I walked up to the address and found Hot Pot studios and walked in the door to find an amazing array of tribal decorations covering the walls and the warmth of welcoming faces ... i was definitely in a tribal studio amongst friends.
After basic introductions, we got straight into it ( i guess i was supposed to warm up beforehand).  Amy led the tribe and we followed.  Music was fantastic, really full and solid.  I tried to follow, recognising some moves quickly (takseem, arabic with twist), not having a clue what the others were (camel - what was that!)
Then the tempo lifted and it was straight into turning the wheel and i then saw the whiteboard with moves written on that they had been following (oh shit, now i am really behind the eight ball - and what move is that?).  Amy gave me an out by allowing me to pass the lead - phew.  The moves were all a little familiar, but i was not confident of my setup and cues and didn't want to throw her tribe into any bad habits. After some practice, we moved onto fast moves.
Now that i had a vague idea of what was going on, i grabbed a front row in the staggered position and tried to keep up.  Fast moves were a little more familiar, however Amy picked up that i was counting the off beat with my egyptians (which are used regularly to move and hold position), so i kept landing on the wrong foot.
Amy was strong with an amazing presence and relentless with the dance content, we covered about 14 moves, stealing the lead, transitioning into a circle, transitioning out into staggered positions again.  I was so impressed with these girls i was wondering what their advanced class must look like.  Amy would throw a challenge out their and her class would gobble it up - so impressed!
My devoted husband was waiting for me outside, so i only stayed a little longer, but was pleased i did, because i got to see the fusion moves.  They were so hip and very cool - sort of a blend of hip hop and tribal.  i wish i could learn some of the names and take them back home as an authored Unmata move.  There was this groovy move with a right snake arm, left snake arm, over both arms, shoulder lift (with grin) and shoulder drop.  I couldn't stop laughing as we practiced, let alone hold a straight face.
As i reached my time to leave, Amy passed me an advertisement to the cues and tattoos event coming up this weekend in seattle (OMG!) and gave me a huge warm tribal sister hug and a big hello to Paulette. Then i tore myself away.  But not without a photo first.  This is Corinne, me, Amy and Colleen at Hot Pot Studios, home of Unmata dance company in Sacramento.

Dress-ups are a part of dance too!

Had a ball with my sister and her husband, son and their beautiful little daughter over the last week. Mia (pictured below) slept in my dance room, which i am sure gave her the most wonderful dreams.  It must have been wonderful waking up to all the gorgeous smiling faces of my dance sisters which cover the walls.  Each morning, after asking for Mummy she would call out for Sisa ...
I opened up my bellydance waldrobe on the last day so we could have some fun with dress-ups, she was a bit mesmerised by the swishy skirts and the jingly belts.  The rajasthan belts got a lot of attention.  The flowers were a big hit too.  Can't wait for her next visit, perhaps i can teach her a few moves next time...

Does all this wet weather drown everything or help it to grow?

A small dance setback last week had me confused.  Only one person turned up to class.  Another called to say she was unable to attend. The weather was horrible, really pouring down with rain, to the extent that i had to call my husband for help across some flash flood water on the way home. 

I chewed over whether i was really going to get a dance class established in Kuranda.  Perhaps i just wasn't meant to be and i was deluding myself. 

So i wandered around the Kuranda markets and found a great spot to do some busking.  Then to reassure me, my venue contact got in touch to try and help.  Then another sign, i have my first follower to my blog (thanks Cayte).

So I have emailed my students and asked for their commitment and feedback. 
Perhaps i will be given a positive response, perhaps i might need to modify how i setup the class, perhaps this may be a time to refocus my own dance.  Either way, my students will let me know.

So, does all this rain help things to grow or drown everything, we will see ...

Re-focus after Cyclone Yasi

Hi folks
I know cyclones are part of living in the tropics, yet feel that we are very lucky to not have taken the brunt of this amazing natural phenomenon.  You can't help but feel so tiny and insignificant when seeing atmospheric systems on this scale and power.
Like the wet season is a chance to breath in the moisture and wash away the previous year, somehow i feel like Cyclone Yasi has been a big cleanup also.  Blown away a few cob webs and cleared the mind a bit.

I feel inspired to start our class on "slow moves" to begin with.  It feels like the right place to begin.

A dancers dream

Paulette inspired me to commit my dream to words, so here goes...

My dream is to build a community of dancers here in Kuranda, who enjoy dancing in each others company.

This is why I dance.  I believe, we are a reflection of our community and as such we evoke creativity and inspiration from our surroundings.  Therfore, we dance as a reflection of our community values.

It is not a wildly ambitious dream, but one i feel passionately about.  

I wish that our community of dancers can work together to build a community space that is our own, complete with floor to ceiling mirrors and photos of each one of us as we dance and beautiful fabrics draped across the walls to remind us of the rich heritage of belly dance. 

I wish that all dancers will feel welcome in this space.  Regardless of whether your style is cabaret, contemporary or Irish dance, I hope that we can work together and respect each other as dancers and learn from each other to better understand and extend our own style.

That is my dream.

If this dream has inspired you, please feel free to add to my post.  Or you can check out Paulette's blog at http://www.tribalbellydanceblog.com/, who inspired me to commit my dream, to the universe.

Tribal Belly Dance returns to Kuranda

It feels so good to be dancing again with a regular class in our little community!
I feel more motivated, inspired, refreshed and strong.  Our first class for the year was a free 'try before you buy' and we had a fabulous bunch of girls along.  Prin, Celia, Jacinta, Suva and Vanessa.  It was so wonderful to see each dancer make the transition from stepping through a movement, to building confidence and then really having some fun with it and finding their own rhythm. 
Some of the girls who phoned did not turn up, I hope everything is alright with them and they can come along next week when structured classes begin.
I just wanted to post a quick message of welcome and say how proud i am of the new dancers in Kuranda dance.